Man Lucky to Be Alive after Contracting a Flesh-Eating Bacteria

WHAT’S BEING CLAIMED:

After losing some meat and skin from parts of his body, John Munoz was ordered to rush to the ER ASAP.

He was found to be infected by necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease caused by Streptococcus.

Skin starts ‘dropping off’ only during the advanced stages of the disease when skin tissues detach from scrubbing.

Thanks to his wife’s persistence, Josh Munoz might not be alive today.

While on a trip to Houston with his wife to celebrate their first anniversary, Josh Munoz from Michigan, noticed pieces of his skin was being washed away in the shower.

In addition, he was also losing meat off his leg, that “you could see everything.” “It was more than enough for me to know something was majorly wrong,” Munoz told Houston Chronicle.

His doctor told him to rush to the ER ASAP. So, he and his wife immediately jumped in the truck and drove away.

As Munoz’ wife Sarah drove the 1,500 mile and 20-hour trip back to Michigan, he said he started feeling tired and losing consciousness. When he asked his wife to stop at a hotel, his wife said no adding that they need to make it to the ER.

Upon seeing Munoz, the doctor ordered for an emergency surgery. It turned out he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease. Later, Munoz said that the doctor told him that if he stopped at the hotel, there’s that 80 percent chance he could have died in his sleep.

“I was so thankful to my wife for being persistent and keeping me going,” said Munoz.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) necrotizing fasciitis is a rare bacterial infection commonly caused by group A Streptococcus. Somehow, the bacteria gets pushed under a person’s skin during injuries like cuts or burns, or insect bites.

Infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD at John Hopkins Center said generally, symptoms include red or swollen parts of the skin that rapidly spreads, accompanied by severe pain and fever. He added that skin doesn’t “fall off” during the early stages, but it could happen if it’s rapidly advancing. The disease is a deeper infection of the skin and its structures. If it is scrubbed, the pressure causes the skin and its tissues to actually detach from one another, explained by Adalja.

Once the disease progresses, sepsis can occur. This is a life-threatening infection that occurs when bacteria enters the bloodstream causing blood pressure to drop, leading to dizziness and loss of consciousness.

The disease is usually detected through a blood test and CT scan. Treatments include antibiotics and surgery to remove the dead tissue.

Meanwhile, Munoz has undergone three surgeries including a pigskin graft, and likely to have more surgeries in the future. He will also be bedridden for six months. A GoFundMe page was set up by friends to help raise money for his medical bills.